Pattern device with movable butts



Oct. 31, 1961 s. J. HADDAD 3,006,174

PATTERN DEVICE WITH MOVABLE BUTTS Filed Jan. 6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR, sALOMAo J HADDAD F T2 Y Byan w.w+z.ugi

ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 8. J. HADDAD PATTERN DEVICE WITH MOVABLE BUTTS mN w m Filed Jan. 6, 1958 ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 5. J. HADDAD PATTERNDEVICE WITH MOVABLE BUTTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 6, 1958 INVENTOR,SALQMAO I. HADDAD ATTORNEYS nited PATTERN DEVICE WITH MQVABLE BUTTESalomao J. Haddad, Charlotte, N.C., assignor, by mesne assignments, toSouthern Mill Equipment Qorporation, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation ofNorth (Iarolina Filed Jan. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 767,293 Claims priority,application Brazil Jan. 7, 1957 8 Claims. (Cl. 66-156) This inventionrelates to pattern devices, such as pattern drums adaptable for use onknitting machines and the like in which levers or plungers areselectively operated in accordance with projections on the patterndevice. Devices with which the present invention is concerned may be inthe form of fiat body members, curved body mem bers or circular bodymembers such as pattern drums, trick wheels and the like such as areused on circular knitting machines.

In such pattern devices presently in use, the pattern is produced bystacking a number of flat pattern plates, disks or rings and flat spacerplates in alternation, which are suitably secured together. For example,the usual type of pattern drum used on knitting machines include anumber of flat pattern disks or rings and flat spacer rings stacked inalternation around a cylindrical drum which serves as a supportingmandrel. Such flat pattern plates or disks are provided with outwardlyor radially projecting frangible pattern elements or butts and, byselectively removing a number of the frangible pattern elements inaccordance with particular pattern requirements, the desired patternwill be achieved upon finally assembling the pattern plates and spacerplates in a predetermined order on the body or drum mandrel.

The removal of selected frangible pattern elements on the pattern platesor disks is time consuming and expensive, not withstanding the fact thatthe pattern plates or disks cannot normally-be re-used when thepatterning is revised.

Various attempts have been made to provide a pattern device havingchangeable pattern elements wherein each pattern element could beremoved from the supporting mandrel or body of the pattern deviceindependently of the others. In some instances, removable pattern buttsor elements having different lengths have been used. However, theremoval and/ or replacement of pattern elements in modifying patternchanges in a pattern device is also time consuming and expensive.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a pattern devicecomprising pattern elements which are movable inwardly and outwardlyrelative to the body or drum supporting the same without removing thepattern elements from the body or drum so the pattern elements may beselectively positioned relative to the body or drum in accordance withparticular pattern requirements, thus facilitating alteration orrevision of the pattern without dismantling the pattern device to anymaterial extent.

It is another more specific object of this invention to provide apattern device in the form of a fiat body or a circular drum in whichthe pattern face comprises closely spaced rows or vertical columns ofselectively inwardly and outwardly movable pattern elements and in whichthe pattern elements may be moved in either direction individually sothat selected pattern elements may project outwardly from the body ofthe pattern device a greater distance than others, and wherein means areprovided for retaining the pattern elements in the desired position.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of oneform of the improved pattern device embodied in a knitting machinepattern drum;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the pattern drum shown in FIGURE 1,omitting the friction device and showing various parts broken away forpurposes of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through thedevice taken substantially along line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but being taken substantiallyalong line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, takensubstantially along line 5-5 in FIGURE 4 showing some of the patternelements in outward or active position with others of the patternelements in inward or inactive position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, exploded isometric view of thestructure shown in FIGURE 3, omitting the top and bottom supportingmembers and corresponding pattern elements;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating two of the patternelements and the corresponding locking keys therefor removed from thepattern drum, with portions of the keys broken away;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along line 8-8 inFIGURE 1, but omitting many of the pattern elements and interveningseparator elements therefrom;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of one of the pattern-elementguiding partitionsor plates removed from the pattern device, with portions broken away andin phantom lines;

FIGURE 10 (Sheet 2) is a plan view of another embodiment of theinvention in which the pattern device is generally in the form of anelongated rectangular body;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the form of theinvention shown in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially alongline l212 in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 13-13 in FIGURE 12.

Pattern devices embodying the principles of the present invention may beused for determining the patterns on various types of machines, such asfull-fashioned hosiery knitting machines, jacquard looms, dobby looms,slubbing attachments for spinning frames, flat bed knitting machines,jacquard knitting machines, circular knitting machines, and the like.Also, the over-all configuration of the pattern device may varyaccording to its particular requirements. The first form of theinvention is embodied in a pattern drum of the type used on circularknitting machines and the second embodiment of the invention shown inFIGURES 10, 11, 12 and 13 is embodied in an elongated substantiallyrectangular assembly which illustrates one of many difierent forms inwhich the improved pattern device may be constructed.

The first form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 9 andembodied in a knitting machine pattern drum will now be described.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the first form of thepattern device is in the form of a cylindrical body, pattern drum orpattern element carrier broadly designated at 20 which is adapted to berotatably mounted on a post or shaft 21 carried by a support 22., suchas the frame of a conventional circular knitting machine. The patterndrum 20 is of generally hollow construction to facilitate inserting onesfingers therein for engaging and moving outwardly novel patternelements, of which two types are shown in the present instance broadlydesignated at 24 and 25. In this instance, the pattern ele ments 24, 25are arranged horizontally in alternation and are also arranged invertical columns. Each of the pattern elements 24, 25 is in the form ofa rigid, relatively thin substantially L-shaped member and it iscontemplated that all the pattern elements 24, 25 may be identical.However, in the interest of compactness, the pattern elements 24, 25 areconstructed similarly, but opposite hand to each other and therefore theparts of the pattern element 25 which are similar to corresponding partsof the pattern element 24 will bear like reference characters with theprime notation added. The L-shaped pattern members 24 and 25 formrespective butt ends or operating ends 26 and 26 and elongated stems orshanks 27 and 27.

As best shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, corresponding side edges of the stem27 of each of the pattern elements 24 is provided with a projection orstop element 30 which extends in the same directions as thecorresponding butt portion 26 with respect to the shank 27. On the otherhand, corresponding side edges of the shanks 27 are provided with aprojection or stop element 3% which eX- tends from the edge of the stem27' opposite from the direction of the butt portion 26. Also, it will beobserved, in FIGURE 7, that the butt portion 26' on the stem 27' of eachpattern element 25 projects from the opposite side of the stem 27' withrespect to the corresponding butt portions 26 on the stem 27 of eachpattern element 24.

The edges of the stems 27, 27 of the pattern elements 24, 25 oppositefrom the respective stop elements 30, 30' are provided with respectivepairs of longitudinally spaced key slots 31, 32 and 31', 32' thereinwhich are so spaced with respect to each other and relative to therespective butt portions 26, 26' that the key slots 31, 31 of adjacenthorizontally spaced pattern elements 24, 25 coincide with each otherwhen the pattern elements occupy inward or inactive position in whichthose elements in the upper portion of FIGURE 5 are shown as well as thepattern elements 24, 25 in FIGURE 7, to thereby accommodate an elongatedlocking element or key 34 for maintaining the latter pattern elements inthe desired inward position. It will be noted that the keys 34 are, inthis instance, made in pairs, with each pair of keys 34 beinginterconnected at its upper end by a bridging portion 35. The lower endof each key 34 is preferably tapered, rounded or pointed, as at 36, tofacilitate insertion thereof in the drum as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

As best shown in the lower portion of FIGURE 5 and in FIGURE 7, it willbe noted that the key slots 32, 32 in the stems 27, 27' of adjacentpattern elements 24, 25 also coincide with each other and the outer endsof the respective butt portions 26, 26 are disposed flush with eachother so that, when the pattern elements 24, 25 occupy an outward oractive position, as shown in the lower portion of FIGURE 5, thecorresponding key 34 engages the adjacent key slots 32, 32' to lock thelatter pattern elements 24, 25 in outward or active position. It shouldbe further noted that, upon either of the adjacent pattern elementsoccupying inward position relative to the other, such as the patternelements 24 and 25 in FIGURE 7, the key slots 31 and 32 may occupycoinciding relationship or the key slots 31', 32 may occupy coincidingrelationship, depending upon which of the two pattern elements shown inFIGURE 7 occupies inward position with respect to the other, thusinsuring that adjacent pattern elements may be locked in the desiredinward or outward position and thereby permitting infinite patternmutations without removing the pattern elements from the drum in whichthey are mounted for radial or inward and outward adjustment.

Although the cylindrical pattern drum or pattern element carrier 20 maybe constructed in various ways, without departing from the spirit of theinvention, a preferred embodiment of construction will now be described.In order to form slots in which the pattern elements 24, 25 are mountedfor individual inward and outward adjustment or displacement whilemaintaining them in accurately spaced horizontal and verticalrelationship, the

pattern drum or pattern element carrier 20 is preferably of compositestructure with its outer wall being formed by a plurality of circularlyspaced outer spacer elements or bars 40 and with its inner wall beingformed by a plurality of circularly spaced inner spacer elements or bars46', the outer and inner spacer elements or bars 40, 4% being disposedvertically in respective spaced and coinciding relationship so as todefine slots therebetween through which the inner and outer portions ofthe stems or shanks 27, 27 of corresponding pattern elements 24, 25extend. It is particularly important to note that the stems 27, 27 ofthe pattern elements 24, 25 are substantially longer than the distancefrom the outer surface of each outer spacer element 40 to the innersurface of each inner spacer element 40' so that the inner ends of thestems 27, 27 of the pattern elements 24, 25 project inwardly of theinner Wall of the pattern element carrier 20 when it is assembled asshown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The pattern elements 24, 25 are thus maintained in proper circularlyspaced or horizontally spaced relationship by the outer and inner spacerelements 40, 40'. In order to support the pattern elements 24, 25 inaccurate vertically spaced relationship, there is provided a pluralityof vertically spaced guide plates which are shown in the form of ringsin FIGURES 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9, the outer or upper and lower rings or guideplates being indicated at 42 and 43, respectively, and the interveningor intermediate plates therebetween each being indicated at 44. Theplates 44 are relatively thin and are preferably of the same thicknessthroughout their width while the plates 42 and 43 are preferablyprovided with respective thickened portions or relatively broadprojections 45 and 46 on the outer or distal surfaces thereof whichloosely fit between inwardly projecting key portions 58, 51 and 52, 53on respective retaining members or plates 54, 55 which retain all of theouter and inner spacer elements 40, 40' and the vertically spaced guideplates 42, 43 and 44 in assembled position, as will be presentlydescribed.

The outer and inner edges of the guide plates 42, 43 and 44 are providedwith coinciding longitudinally spaced or circularly spaced projectionsor lugs 56, 57 thereon, respectively, between adjacent pairs of whichthe respective spacer bars 46 and 40 are adapted. to snugly fit, so theprojections or lugs 56 maintain the outer spacer elements or bars 40 inaccurately spaced relationship while the projections or lugs 57 on theinner edges of the guide plates 42, 43 and 44 maintain the inner spacerelements or bars 40 in accurately spaced relationship. The outer andinner spacer elements 49, 40 are also provided with respective toothlikeprojections 60, 69 on the proximal edges thereof, adjacent pairs ofwhich straddle the respective guide plates. The outer and inner spacerelements 40, 44) are positioned between adjacent lugs 56, 57, to therebyalso maintain the guide plates 42, 43 and 44 in accurate verticallyspaced relationship.

Now, it will be noted that the upper and lower ends of the outer andinner spacer elements 40, 48' are each cut away at their outer edges toform respective retaining projections 61, 62 and 61', 62 on the upperand lower ends of the outer and inner spacer elements or bars 40, 40which, as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, are adapted to fit against theinner surfaces of the respective retaining projections 50, 52 and 51, 53on the proximal surfaces of the retaining plates or members 54, 55, tothereby retain the spacer elements 40-, 40 in engagement with the guideplates 42, 43 and 44.

With the parts thus assembled, the outer guide plates 42, 43 may besuitably secured to the retaining members 54, 55, as by respectivescrews 64, 65 (FIGURE 4), During assembly of the guide plates 42, 43 and44 and the spacer elements 49, 4t) in substantially the mannerdescribed, the stems 27, 27' of the pattern elements 24, 25 arepositioned between the plates 42, 43 and 44 and the corresponding spacerbars 40, 40', substantially as shown in FIGURES 1 through 5. Thus, thestems of the pattern elements are positioned for radial sliding movementin slots defined by the guide plates 42, 43 and 44 and the spacerelements 40, 40.

Since the pattern element carrier is in the form of a cylindrical drum,it is preferred that the inner spacer elements 40' are of lesserthickness than the outer spacer elements 40, and that the inner ends ofthe shanks 27, 27 of the respective pattern elements 24, are of lesserwidth than the outer ends thereof, with the exception of theirregularities formed thereon by the butts 26, 26', the stop projections30, 30' and the key slots 31, 31', 32 and 32'. The inner ends of theshanks 27, 27' on the pattern elements 24, 25 are also preferablyrounded or have any rough edges removed therefrom so they may be engagedby ones fingers for moving the same outwardly.

After the parts have been assembled in the manner described, it may bedesirable to position the lower retaining member or plate 55 on a base66 which, in this instance, is shown in the form of a ratchet wheel orgear. In this instance, the base 66 is provided with an annular groove67 in its upper surface and in which the lower retaining member 55 isloosely fitted. In order to insure proper relationship between the teethin the ratchet wheel 66 and the pattern elements and to also facilitateease in assembly, the base or ratchet wheel 66 is provided with aplurality of spaced locating elements or pins 70- which project upwardlyin the bottom of the annular groove 67 and loosely penetrate the bottomretaining member 55 and the bottom guide plate 43 (FIGURES 3 and 8).

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, the guide plates 42, 43, 44 and theupper retaining member 54 are provided with coinciding holes 71 thereinwhich are circularly spaced for receiving the respective keys 34. Thekeys 34 are positioned in alinement between the respective outer andinner spacer bars 40, 40" so as to fit in the key slots 30, 31, 31 ajnd32' in the manner heretofore described,

depending upon the relative position of adjacent pattern elements 24,25. One of the pairs of interconnected keys 34 is omitted from theleft-hand portion of FIGURE 2 to illustrate the corresponding holes 71in the upper retaining member 54.

Now, although the rounded or pointed lower ends 36 of the keys 34 willassist in alining the key slots in adjacent pattern elements therewithas the keys 34 are being inserted in the holes 71, it will be notedthat, when the inner surfaces of any of the butts 26, 26 are inengagement with the outer surface of corresponding outer spacer elements40, the key slots 31, 31 thereof are accurately alined with therespective holes 71 in the guide plates 42, 43, 44 and the upperretaining member 54. On the other hand, when any of the pattern elements24 or 25 occupy outward or active position as shown in the lower portionof FIGURE 5, the corresponding stop projections 36, 3t) engage the innersurfaces of corresponding teeth 60 on the corresponding outer spacer bar46. In so doing, the

stop projections 30, 30' insure that the corresponding inlner key slots32, 32 are then in alinement with the respective holes 71.

It is thus seen that, in order to alter or revise the pattern, it issimply necessary to remove or partially remove corresponding keys 34 sothat desired pattern elements 24 and/or 25 may be moved inwardly oroutwardly, as the case may be, whereupon the previously removed orpartially removed keys 34 may then be reinserted in the correspondingholes 71 to serve as a looking means for retaining the pattern elementsin the desired position. It is contemplated that additional key slotsmay be provided in the shanks 27, 27 of the pattern elements 24, 25 inthe event that it is desired that the pattern elements are capable ofadjustment to more than two different positions, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

After the desired pattern mutations have been made, a cap, upper endplate or disk 74 may be positioned against the outer or upper surface ofthe upper retaining member 54, the lower surface of the cap 74preferably being suitably grooved, as at 75, to accommodate the bridgingportions 35 on adjacent pairs of keys 34.

The base 66 and the cap 74 may be provided with corresponding axiallyalined bores or holes 76, 77 (FIG- URE 4) for mounting the pattern drumor pattern element carrier 20 on the shaft 21. The upper end of theshaft 21 may be provided with a suitable friction device 80 thereon,such as is generally used on knitting machines, for engaging the uppersurface of the cap or end plate 74 to prevent inadvertent rotation ofthe pattern drum 20, as is well known. The cap 74 may be maintained inengagement with the upper retaining member 54 by any suitable means and,in this instance, a plurality of pins are provided in the end member orcap 74, which loosely penetrate the upper retaining member 54 andpartially loosely penetrate the upper spacing or guide plate 42, as bestshown in FIGURES Z and 3.

Although the base 66 and cap 74 are shown as independent elements, it isapparnet that they may be integral with the respective retaining members55, 54 or, as a matter of fact, the retaining member 55 may be of lesserinternal diameter than that shown so as to fit on the post 21. In thelatter instance, it is apparent that the cap 74 may be omitted. The cap74 also provides a shield for the upper bridging portions 35 of the keys34.

In setting up an original pattern, the pattern drum 20 is normallyremoved from the post 21, the cap 74 and all the keys 34 removed andthen all of the inner ends of the stems 27, 27' of all the patternedelements 24, 25 pushed outwardly, as by ones finger, to move all of thepattern elements 24, 25 outwardly to active position. Alternatively, thefriction device 80 may be removed from post 21 and the entire patterndrum 20 (with the exception of the ratchet wheel or base 66) lifted offthe post 21 so as to provide for easy access to the inner ends of thepattern elements 24, 25 through the ring retainer member 55. Theoperator or mechanic then merely pushes the butts 26, 26' of any desiredpatterned elements 24, 25 inwardly to inactive position, leaving theremaining pattern elements in active position, to form the desiredpattern on the outer face of the pattern drum 20. Any relativelysmall-ended instrument 'may be used by the operator for engaging theends of .the butts 26, 26'

for this purpose. Thereupon, the keys 34 are inserted in the holes 71 inthe upper retaining plates 54 and the guide plates 42, 43 and 44 forlocking all the pattern elements in the position to which they have beenadjusted. The cap 74 is then positioned upon the upper retaining member54 in the manner described, the pattern drum 20 replaced on the shaft 21and the pattern drum 20 is then ready for operation. As heretoforestated, if it so happens that only one or a relatively few of thepattern elements need be adjusted, it is only necessary to removecorresponding keys from engagement with the pattern elements to beadjusted,

make the necessary adjustments, and then reinsert the keys.

' Modified form of pattern device It has already been stated that thepattern device embodying the principles of the present invention mayvary in its over-all configuration according to the purpose for which itis used. In FIGURES 10, 11 and 12, a modified form of pattern deviceembodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated, whichis of generally rectangular construction and, since many of the parts ofthe form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 10, 11, 12 and 13 are quitesimilar to corresponding parts of the first form of the invention shownin FIGURES 1 through 9, like reference character will apply to suchsimilar parts with the small letter a added thereto, where applicable.

It will be observed in FIGURES 10 through 13 that the modified form ofpattern device comprises pattern elements 24a, 25a which aresubstantially the same as the pattern elements 24, 25 of the first formof the invention, with the primary exception that the stems or shanks27a, 27a thereof need not be of lesser width at the inner ends thereofthan they are adjacent the respective butts 26a, 26a thereof.Accordingly, a further detailed description of the pattern elements 24a,25a will not be given. The keys 34a may be identical to the keys 34,although the lower portions thereof need not penetrate the lowerretaining member 5512. The vertical outer and inner spacer elements orbars 40a, 40a may be identical to the respective spacer elements 40, 40'of FIGURE 6. However, it will be observed in FIGURE 12 that the outerand inner spacer elements 40a, 40a may be identical rather thandiffering in relative thick ness.

Since the horizontal guide plates 42a, 43a and 44a, the upper and lowerretaining members 54a, 55a and the cap 74a are also of substantially thesame construction as the corresponding elements 42, 43, 44, 54, 55 and74 of the first form of the invention, a detailed description of theseelements is also deemed unnecessary, it being sulficient to state thatthe elements 42a, 43a, 44a, 54a, 55a and 74a are substantiallyrectangularly-shaped while, on the other hand, the elements 42, 43, 44,54, 55 and 74 are circular or annular. The guide plates 42a, 43a and44a, the upper and lower retaining members 54a and 55a, and the cap 74amay be secured in assembled position in any desired manner.

By way of example, it will be observed in FIGURES 11 and 12 thatopposite ends of the guide plates 4-4 fit in vertically extending groves90 provided in the proximal surfaces of end frame members or bars 91. Itis apparent that opposite ends of the upper and lower outer guide plates42a, 43a may also be positioned in the grooves 90 in the manner of theintervening guide plates 44a. The upper and lower retaining members 54a,55a extend outwardly beyond opposite ends of the guide plates 42a, 43aand 44a and are suitably secured to the upper and lower ends of thecorresponding end frame members 91, as by screws 92 and 93,respectively. The cap 74a may also be secured to the upper surface ofthe upper retaining member 54a by the screws 92.

It is apparent that the various elements of the form of pattern deviceshown in FIGURES 10 through 13 may be assembled and the pattern facealtered by adjustment of the pattern elements 24a, 25a in substantiallythe same manner as that described with respect to the first form of theinvention. Also, it is apparent that the upper and lower retainingelements 54a, 55a and the cap 74a may be of somewhat different shapefrom that shown in FIGURES 10 through 12 depending upon the purpose forwhich the second form of pattern device is used. The second form ofpattern device may also be secured to automatic machinery and in anydesired manner and a detailed description and illustration of means forsecuring the same to such machinery is deemed unnecessary.

Since the attitude of the embodiments of the invention disclosed hereinmay vary, the terms horizontal and vertical, and the equivalentsthereof, are used in the specification and claims for purposes oforientation only and are not to be construed as limitations.

It is thus seen that I have provided novel pattern devices comprisingbody members provided with slots therein in which the shanks of novelpattern elements or butts are movably supported, with the shanksextending through the body so as to move any desired pattern butts,individually, in groups or in toto, outwardly to operative or activeposition, and wherein means are provided for releasably locking thepattern elements or butts in the desired selected position.

It is particularly important to note that the present invention providesan alterable pattern face for knitting machine pattern drums or otherpattern devices in which the pattern elements remain intact with respectto the body of the pattern device at all times regardless of alterationsmade in the pattern, thus making it possible to set up original patternsor to alter the face of the pattern device in a fraction of the timeheretofore consumed in setting up and altering the pattern face of priorpattern devices, with consequent less expense in setting up and alteringthe pattern face, as well as enabling increased production on theautomatic machinery with which the improved pattern device is used, andobviating the necessity of providing special tools for use in alteringthe pattern face.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

1. A pattern device for a knitting machine comprising a plurality ofvertically spaced substantially annular guide plates each having aplurality of circularly spaced projections on opposed inner and outeredgesdhereof, vertical spacer elements extending laterally of saidplates and fitting between adjacent projections for maintaining theplates in vertical alinernent, each spacer element being provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced teeth thereon straddling, and therebyserving as spacers between, adjacent plates, the spacer elements atouter edges of the plates collectively serving as an outer wall and thespacer elements at the inner edges of the plates collectively serving asan inner wall with adjacent spacer elements defining slots therebetween,independent pattern elements selectively movable in said slots todifferent positions relative to the outer wall, and means forreleasa-bly retaining the elements in dilferent positions relative tothe axis of said plates.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said pattern elements eachhas a shank thereon, one of said shanks being loosely mounted in each ofat least some of said slots, a butt on the outer end of each shank andbeing adapted to engage said outer wall when in inactive position tothereby limit inward movement of the corresponding pattern element, saidshank of each pattern element being of such length as to projectinwardly from the inner wall at least while occupying inactive positionto facilitate pushing each pattern element outwardly, and means limitingoutward movement of each pattern element relative to the outer wall.

3. A pattern device for a knitting machine including a cylindrical bodycomprising a stack of verticallyspaced annular guide plates each havinga plurality of circularly spaced lugs on each edge thereof, spacer barsextending axially of said plates and fitting between adjacent lugs, eachspacer bar being provided with a plurality of axially spaced teeththereon straddling and thereby serving as spacers between adjacentplates, the spacer bars at corresponding outer edges of the platescollectively serving as an outer wall and the spacer bars at the inneredges of the plates collectively serving as an inner wall with adjacentbars defining slots therebetween, independent pattern elementspositioned in the slots for inward and outward movement relative to thebody, each pattern element having an operating end forming a patternsurface on the outer face of the body in accordance with the positionoccupied thereby with respect to the face of the body, means limitinginward and outward movement of each pattern element, and means forreleasably retaining said elements in radially adjusted positionrelative to the body.

4. A structure a cording to claim 3 in which said lastmentioned meanscomprises a plurality of elongated keys, and means on each patternelement engageable with a corresponding key for restraining the patternelement from movement relative to the body, said keys being movablerelative to the body for withdrawing the same from engagement with saidmeans on each pattern element.

5. A pattern device for a knitting machine comprising a cylindricalpattern carrier provided with a cylindrical outer face and having aplurality of axially spaced circular rows of substantially radiallyextending slots there in, independent pattern elements positioned in theslots for inward and outward movement relative to and radially of thecarrier, each pattern element having an operating end adapted to projectoutwardly relative to the outer face of the carrier, and means forsecuring each of said pattern elements in each of at least two adjustedpositions and in at least one position of which the respective operatingend projects outwardly from said outer face of said carrier.

6. A pattern device according to claim in which said carrier is ofannular form and is thus provided with an inner face defining an axialopening in said carrier, and said pattern elements having respectiveportions which project inwardly of said inner face and are exposed insaid axial opening when occupying, at least, their innermost positionswith respect to said outer face.

7. A pattern device for a knitting machine comprising a plurality ofvertically spaced substantially annular guide plates, a plurality ofinner spacer elements extending substantially parallel to the axis ofsaid plates and being attached to the inner edges of said plates, aplurality of outer spacer elements extending in parallel relation tosaid inner spacer elements and being attached to the outer edges of saidplates, said inner and outer spacer elements being respectively arrangedin circularly spaced relationship, the outer spacer elementscollectively serving as an outer wall and the inner spacer elementscollectively serving as an inner wall with adjacent spacer elementsdefining radial slots therebetween, independent pattern elementsselectively movable in said radial slots to different positions relativeto the outer wall, and means for releasably retaining said patternelements in said radial slots in said diiferent positions.

8. A structure according to claim 7 wherein said last mentioned meanscomprises a plurality of elongated keys, and means on each patternelement engageable with a corresponding key for restraining the patternelement from movement relative to said plates, said keys being movablerelative to said plates for withdrawing the keys from engagement withsaid means on the respective pattern elements to facilitate movement ofthe pattern elements from one to another of said different positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,124,303 Lombardi July 19, 1938 2,272,545 Chalupowski Feb. 10, 19422,596,330 Everard May 13, 1952 2,601,154 Krueger et al. June 17, 19522,900,837 Brandt Aug. 25, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 218,848 Great BritainJuly 17, 1924

